A 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman has been arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport for alleged drug trafficking.
The suspect was intercepted during outward screening in the departure hall after officials flagged her luggage for further checks.
A physical search revealed about 13kg of suspected cocaine meticulously concealed inside hollowed-out plantain peels to mimic fresh produce.
The consignment was intended for the United Kingdom.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, arrested Mary Yetunde Barek at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Sunday, over alleged attempted cocaine smuggling.
NDLEA statement
NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the arrest is part of the agency’s ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking through Nigeria’s airports and other entry points.
The suspect, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport on Sunday, June 28, 2026, while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, operatives subjected her luggage to a thorough search, leading to the discovery of the illicit drug.
The agency said a total of 31 large wraps of cocaine had been packaged to resemble hands of plantain and hidden among other food items.
“A thorough search of her bags resulted in the discovery of 31 big wraps of cocaine which were packaged to appear like plantain hands, weighing a total of 13 kilograms,” the statement said.
NDLEA said Barek admitted ownership of the seized drugs during interrogation.
“In her statement, the elderly woman admitted full ownership of the recovered cocaine exhibits,” the agency added.
The arrest is part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to intercept illicit drug trafficking through Nigeria’s airports and other entry and exit points.
Other arrests same period
In a related operation, NDLEA also arrested a 45-year-old PhD student over 5.8kg of cocaine allegedly concealed in cartons of Orijin Bitters bound for Malaysia.
The suspect remains in NDLEA custody and investigations are ongoing
